Media Statements

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Precinct Probity Adviser appointed

Plans to redevelop the rundown government precinct in Brisbane are advancing with the announcement today of the appointment of former Queensland Auditor General Len Scanlan as probity adviser.

Deputy Premier and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jeff Seeney told Parliament the appointment of Mr Scanlan by the Government would ensure the evaluation process would be beyond reproach.

“Mr Scanlan is well known in Government and professional circles and his appointment will be important to the process running smoothly and ensure it will pass any scrutiny,” Mr Seeney said.

“We recently said we were looking for an integrated resort where a casino licence will be offered to encourage a world class development which will reinvigorate this historic precinct that was left to languish under the previous government.

“Labor paid little attention to the construction industry, but it is being reinvigorated as one of the four pillars of the economy by the Newman Government and this project will give the sector a bigger boost.

“We have made it clear that the state is open for business and Government officers will shortly leave to test the appetite of North American and Asian developers for this once in a generation opportunity.

“We are keen to engage overseas interests, to ensure the state gets the best possible development.

“What we will deliver is an open, fair and equitable process with all potential bidders having the same opportunity to win the tender.”

Mr Seeney said Mr Scanlan was one of two key appointments with business consulting firm BDO appointed as probity consultants.

“The roles of the consultants and Mr Scanlan will oversee the accountability process from start to finish,” he said.

The Expression of Interest process, starting with Registrations of Interest for the Government Precinct Redevelopment, is set to commence by the end of the year.

The EOI period is expected to be concluded by the end of March 2014 and following assessment and shortlisting a Request for Detailed Proposals issued by the end of June 2014.

A decision on the successful proponent is expected to be finalised by mid-2015.

Len Scanlan held the position of Auditor-General of Queensland from December 1997 until December 2004. In this role he was also the chief executive officer of the Queensland Audit Office. Prior to his appointment as Auditor-General he held the position of Assistant Auditor-General (4 years) with the Queensland Audit Office.

As the Queensland Parliament’s external auditor he was responsible for the audits of all local governments and State public sector entities, including government departments, statutory bodies, government-owned corporations, government companies and the controlled entities of these organizations.

He was a career Queensland public servant for 31 years working in the former Department of the Auditor-General with experience in external audit, policy and planning and audit services development. He served with the Premier’s Department (inter-governmental relations), the Transport Department (policy and planning) and the Queensland Treasury (financial management policy).

Mr Scanlan is a graduate of Queensland Institute of Technology (now QUT) with a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy).

He also holds degrees in Arts, Public Administration and Master of Public Administration (UQ).

He is a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Institute of Internal Auditors (Australia), the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Institute of Public Administration Australia.